Lee Odis Patterson

Billy, as he was affectionately known, departed this life on October 23, 2025. He was born in Alliance, Ohio and spent most of his life there; he also spent time living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Alliance High School. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Army and bravely served in Vietnam; he is the recipient of a Purple Heart. He was wounded but the good Lord saw fit to bring him home safe and sound. He also served in the Ohio National Guard and received an Honorable Discharge.

He continued his education and completed a training program that enabled him to become a Journeyman Millwright licensed by the State of Ohio. Many of us have heard it said that: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And many others of us have heard: “If it is broke, Billy can fix it.” From carpentry to plumbing, electrical to air conditioning: Billy knew how to fix it.

Lee retired from Eljer Plumbing Ware in Salem, Ohio in 2005. He served as the Vice-President of the Steelworkers Union, Local 3816. His Union brothers and co-workers knew how to consult him if there were any questions about that union contract. He was a major player during contract negotiations and grievance hearings. He also bowled with the Union bowling team and often carried an average score of 260. After retirement, he worked as the Maintenance Foreman for The Grisez Brothers Properties, Inc. at the Potter’s Creek Apartment Complex in Alliance, Ohio.

Billy was a top chef and could cook anything and everything. He had received a certificate from a culinary school in Pennsylvania. He was well known for his Sweet Potato Pies and was always on call for friends and family members who needed help cooking this or that. If you ever attended one of his family reunions there would be plenty of delicious food so you wouldn’t have  to leave hungry.

Billy loved the outdoors. He hunted with friends in Canada and locally and loved fishing. If it was fishing season you couldn’t find him at home but perhaps at one of his secret fishing locations. It was not unusual to find his freezer full of venison steaks and roasts as well as bags of Crappie and Bluegill Fish.

Lee leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 25 years, Rev.  Dr. Jo Ann Patterson, and his great-grandson, Zion T. Bettis, whom he helped to raise since the age of 3 years old. He also leaves his children: Dion Freeman (son), Tamara Freeman (daughter), Ashley King (grand-daughter), Alisa Johnson (step-daughter), Eartha Giles (sister) and Bobby and Wanda (brother and sister-in-law). There are many other nieces, nephews, grand-children and great-grand children. There are also cousins in the Pittsburgh area: Freddie Jackson, Alice Knight and Tony Malone.

There are also many family members who have passed away prior to Lee’s passing and include: Stella (sister), Rose and Robert (sister and brother-in -law), Marvie and Boris (sister and brother-in law), Elva (sister, known as Shuggie), William (brother), James (brother), Emma Patterson (great-grandmother) and Barbara Patterson (mother).

If we had to sum up Lee’s life, we could say it this way:

“HE LIVED, HE LAUGHED AND HE LOVED. HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A

HELPING HAND TO ANYONE IN NEED.”

Will we miss him?

Oh yes, we will!!

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